Cotton separator



Aug. 14, 1928. 1,680,977

' J. c. GARNER COTTON SEPARATOR Filed Ap 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 11v vsTORI:

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J. c; GARNER (ZO'ITON SEPARATOR' Filed April 7, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4gwoentoz Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES JAMES C. GARNER, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

COTTON SEPARA'IOR.

Application filed April 7,

This invention relates to improvements in mechanisms which are used intreating cotton to separate the fibers from streams of air. Although theinvention is primarily designed for the handling of cotton, andisdescribed as used in handling this particular material, it is alsoadapted for use with other materials of similar nature and which arepneumatically elevated or transported for various purposes.

For many purposes, cotton is pneumatically picked up at one point oranother, and conveyed through ducts to places where it is to be stored,or is to be subjected to the ac tion of machinery. It must be separatedfrom the air at whatever points it is to be deposited. Machines havebeen designed for this separating work which include rotary screendrums, arranged so that the incoming cotton laden air is caused totravel inwardly through the screen and deposit the cotton on the outersurface; after such operation, the air escapes from the interior of thedrum and subsequently the cotton is transferred from the drum usually byrotating the drum to a point where/the cotton falls off, after beingrelieved of the suction of the air flowing inwardly through the drum. MyPatents No. 1,397,001, granted Nov. 15, 1921 and No. 1,409,540, grantedMay 14, 1922, are examples of such machines, and illustrate mechanismsof the general character upon which the present invention is intended toimprove in various respects below enumerated.

Difficulty has been experienced in the operation of mechanismsheretofore developed because of a tendency of the cotton to con gestperiodically, and to clog the mechanism; this tendency is probably dueto the fact that the delivering suction, or air, will convey irregularamounts, and hence the cotton is unevenly or irregularly delivered tothe mechanism. Congestion, whether caused for this or for any otherreason, interrupts op eration of the mechanism, and since each mechanismusually constitutes a unit of a plant, it will be necessary in suchinstances, to shut down the entire plant until the separator or vacuumdropper, as it is called, can be relieved of this congestion.

An object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which willautomatically pre- 1927. Serial No, 181,739.

vent such congestion or accumulations of cotton therein as causeinterruption of its operation,

Another object of the invention'is to provide a mechanism in which thecotton is uniformly distributed longitudinally of the pockets and thedrum, andwhich may be regulated to insure uniform distribiition of thecotton longitudinally ofthedrum under varying operating conditions. Theinvention also seeks to provide a means which will distribute the cottonlongitudinally of the drum and of the screening means associatedtherewith, since the face of the screening means parallels the axis ofthe drum.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compact, rugged, drumconstruction, which may be economically manufactured, and whic i isextremely durable in use. These, and other objects of theinvention,including the provision of a mechanism having a large capacitywithout material enlargement of its parts, over what has been heretoforecustomary, and other objects of a similar nature, will become clearer asthe description proceeds in connection withthe embodiment shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a transverse the line 11 of Figure 2.,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. V

Figure 3 is an end view of the left hand end of the machine, as viewedin Figure 2,

sectional view on with a portion of the exhaust duct at this end brokenaway,

Figure 1 is a top plan View, with the intermediate portion of themachinebroken away, and the exhaust duct at one end shown in horizontalsection.

Figure 5 is a partial end view.

Figure 6 is an enlargeddetail of one of the flights on the rotarydrum.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description, 10 indicatesa casing having a receiving chamberll with which communicates an inletduct 11, the latter being arranged at an intermediate portion of thecasing, i. e. at a distance from each end, and preferably atsubstantially the transverse center of the casing. (Fig. 2) so that theincoming cotton and air is deposited upon the transverse center of arevoluble element or p drum 12, which is supported upon a shaft 13having bearings let in end spiders 15, the arms of which are secured bybolts 18 to the ends 10 of the casing. Although the term drum is usedthroughout the specification and in many of the claims in referring tothe revoluble element, I desire it to be under stood that this term isused in a very generic sense to cover any revoluble cotton propellingmeans. The inlet duct 11 is extended into the casing a substantialdistance (Fi 1) by a board 19 running substantially the entire length ofthe casing and secured to the casing ends 10, so that the incomingcotton will drop upon the drum in substantially a vertical planeintersecting its axis.

The drum is formed by means of heads 20 which are arranged in openingsin the easing ends. Each head has an imperforate marginal portion 21 anda circular flange 22 projecting into the casing and connected with a hubportion 23 by means of spokes 21 spaced apart to provide openings 25.The two heads have extending between them a hollow drum hub 26 whichtapers from substantially the vertical transverse center 28 of the drumto the opposite ends 29 which encircle the inwardly extending head hubs23. The hub is of substantially the double cone form shown in my Patentlat-09,540, and is provided so that the air travelling toward oppositeends of the drum along axial lines will have a passage of graduallyincreasing area; thus the resistance to the air passing through thedrunraround its hub increases from transverse planes at the ends of thedrum along axial lines to the transverse planes of the central partsthereof, as explained fully in my Patent 1,409,540. The drum has securedthereto the angularly bent inner edges 30 (Figure 1) of the plates orvanes 31. which radiate from the conical drum hub and form a pluralityof compartments on the drum. the compartments opening radially outwardlyand at the drum ends communicating through the openings 25 in the drumheads with discharge ducts 32. The discharge ducts are formed bysubstantially annular hoods 33 fitting over the circular flanges 34 atthe inner ends of the arms of the spiders 15. Within the flanges 34, thespiders are provided below the axis of the shaft 19 with drum endcut-off plates or webs 35, so that in horizontal planes below the drumaxis the air may not pass inwardly through the drum to the dischargeducts: above the drum axis and between the edges 35. 35", of the webs 35(Figure 3), the spiders are open to permit passage of the air throughthe compartments between the vanes and through the openings in the headsof drum to the ducts 32 at the ends of the drum. as indicated by thearrows in Figure 2. The drum has associated therewith, and in the deviceillustrated carries, a screening means such as a foraminous peripheralwall 36. Flights 37 extending radially outwardly beyond the foraminouswall form therebetween cotton *arrying receptacles or pocliets, theflights serving to propel or carry between them the cotton as the drumrevolves.

The preferred construction of each flight member is shown in Figure 6,and consists of a substantially channel-member formed by two sections38, 39 held apart by an interior reinforcing channel. member -10, thesections 38, 39 having inwardly bent jnxta posed portions all overlyingthe reinforcing member 10 and parallel outer end extensions 12 which areclamped together, as by bolts 13, and secure between them a relativelyflexible wiper element 4:1. The inner ends of the sections 38, 39 arearranged on opposite sides of a vane 31 and are secured to the vane asby rivets 1G. The latter passes through the out-turned edges of screensections 47 which complete the foraminous wall of the drum.

It will he understood that as the drum rotates in the directionindicated by the arrows, (Figure 1) by mechanism which will be laterdescr'bed, it passes beneath the duct extending board 19 and the variouspockets receive the air-laden cotton. The air in the cotton, which isdeposited in the pockets. iass inwardly and then axially orlongitudinally of the drum to the discharge ducts as indicated by the:rrows in Figure Continued rotation of the drum carries the cotton.which has been deposited in its peripheral pockets, around to thedischarge opening i-S through which the cotton gravitates, having beenreleased by the retaining suction of the air, due to the tact that thecompartments formed by the vanes 31 are cut oil at their ends. whenbelow the axis of the drum, from the discharge ducts by the cut-offplates It will be Ul1tl(.1. l'0()(l that a continuous suction ismaintained in the discharge ducts which are joined to a common dischargepassage or line 50 (Figure 1) by means of a tan or other suctionproducing means, not shown.

In order to regulate the velocity and snction in the two ductsrelatively to one am other, each duct is provided with a control valve51 having an operating lever outside the duct, and provided with adetent 53 adapted to engage a rack segment This arrangement of thevalves affords means for properly proportioning distril'mtion oi thesuction from the main line at) to each end of the drum so that thecotton may be distributed uniformlv longitudinally oi? the drum and overthe face of the screenin means associated with the drum at oppositesides of the transverse center of the drum.

The provision of these valves assists in obtaining a uniformdistribution of the cotton the full length of the drum since by ill)llll) llll ' regulating the suction through'the screening meansinterposed between the cotton in the pockets and the openings atopposite. sides of the transverse center of the drum the distribution ofcotton to opposite sides of such transverse center may be equalized.Although the arranging of the inlet duct at the transverse center of thedrum as shown in Figure 2 facilitates in this distribution due to thefact that the suction is directed in 0p posite directions from thiscenter plane toward the drum ends, in many cases it is impossible toinstall the mechanism so that the intake will extend sufficiently farenough within the mechanism to allow the cotton to equalize itself onentering the casing. If it is necessary to place an elbow, for instance,near the intake, the cotton will be thrown and will be deposited more atone end of the drum than at the other unless it is possible to overcomethis tendency by increasing the suction at the opposite end, which ispossible in the present mechanism, due to the provision of theseindependently adjustable valves. In some instances, furthermore, thesuction fan within the outlet duct must be located so that it will tendto create a greater suction in one end duct than the other. By means ofthese valves, however, this greater suction in one end can becounteracted by a closing of the valve to equalize the suction with thesuction at the opposite end. Although this phase of the invention isshown as applied to a specific form of cotton separator, it will beunderstood that it is useful in connection with any cotton separatorhaving a main suction line, suction of which communicates with thecasing ofthe separator at spaced points axially or longitudinally of thedrum, and particularly in a separator having a drum provided with aplurality of cotton pocket-s and having as sociated therewith a screeninterposed between the pockets and the openings in the casing throughwhich the suction communicates with the casing since in such a separatorit is desirable that the cotton be distributed uniformly alongthe drumand the screen and at opposite sides of the transverse center of thedrum. I am aware that attempts have heretofore been made to provide aconstruction which will accomplish this result. Such attempts, however,have been directed toward variations in the construction of the casingand in the arrangement of the suction openings with relation to the drumand in the proper proportioning of the air hoods at the ends of thecasing.

After extended experimental work extendnot successfully accomplish thisresult; I have found that the distribution of the suction from the mainline varies as the screen openings become congested with fine dust orlint deposit, and in such machines as have heretofore been developed, ithas been ordinarily necessary, in order to obviate this defeet, todiscontinue operation of the machine and of the associated unitsunt-il'the screen may be properly cleaned. The means provided in thepresent mechanism, however, practically eliminates the necessity forshutting down the operation of the machine, since as the screen becomesclogged the valves may be regulated in order to restore a properproportioning of the suction.

One important feature of the invention resides in means for avoidingcongestion Within the casing which would interrupt the operation of themechanism. As explained above, due to the pneumatic delivery to themechanism, the cotton is fed irregularly, and means is provided to levelautomatically, such of the drum pockets as areoverfilled before theypass from the inlet chamber 11 and the suction field. Such means,preferably, takes the form of a. rotating stripper roll 55,having-radiating fins 56, which pass in proximity, or substantiallytangent, to the outer circle of the drum or the path defined by the endsof the flights on thedrum as illustrated in Figure 1. The stripper rollrotates in the direction indicated by the arrows 57 and opposite thedirect-ion of movement of the drum, with the result that any pocketwhich is bverfilled so that the mate rial spans the flight, will beremoved from the roll and retained against movement therewith until itmay be received by a following unfilled pocket.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for driving the drum and stripperroll. In the present embodiment of the invention, the driving mechanismcomprises a belt receiving pulley 58 on stripper roll'sha-ft 59 whichhas bearings 60 in the end walls 10 of the casing. The opposite end ofthe stripper roll shaft carries a sprocket 61 driving through a chain62, the sprocket-63 upon end of drum shaft 12; an idler sprocket 64; iscarried by an L-shaped bracket 65 supported from bearing 61 and. byadjustmentof the bracket, will serve to take up slack in the chain. Thisdriving mechanism imparts a positive movement to the stripper rolldirect from the take-off pulley 58, and through the stripper roll shaftthe drum is'actuated. By this arrangement the main force of power-istransmitted direct to the stripping roll, which act, therefore, in thedouble capacity as adrive for the drum and to keep the cotton frombridging the flights and congesting the machine.

It is to be noted (Figure 2) that the stripper roll is arranged directlybeneath the inlet duct extension board 19, which causes the cotton to bedelivered in front of the stripping roll and directly upon the drum insubstantially a vertical plane extending through the axis of the latter.Thus the cotton is delivered to open pocket, which being open allows theair in the cotton to pass out through the drum screen into the internalcompartments or ducts of the drum and then outwardly through the drumends into the discharge ducts. The air which passes into the individualdischarge ducts meets at the juncture of the two ducts with the maindischarge passage 5 (Figure l). Continued rotation of the drum, as hasbeen explained, carries the cotton in the filled pockets around to thecasing discharge opening 8 through which it gravitates, due to theabsence of retaining suction for the cotton the suction being cut off bythe cut-otl' plates 35 in the end spiders which carry the hoods 31forming the discharge ducts.

Obviously, numerous modifications may be made in the structureillustrated and described in detail, without departure "from theinvention, which is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described. a casing having an inlet, arotary drum therein having a plurality of peripheral pockets withforaminous portions on the drum wall adapted to be moved successivelyadjacent said inlet to be filled, means for passing air through saidforaminous pocket portions when in acertain section of the path oftravel of the drum and means within the casing and spaced inwardly fromits wall "for leveling the filled pockets.

2. In a machine of the class described, a casing having an inlet. arotary drum therein having a plurality of peripheral pockets withforaminous portions on the drum wall adapted to be moved successivelyadjacent said inlet to be filled, means for passing air through saidforaminous pocket portions when in a certain section of the path oftravel of the drum and moving means within the casing for leveling thefilled pockets as the drum moves away from said inlet.

3. In a machine of the class described, a casing having an inlet, arotary drum therein having a plurality of peripheral pockets withforaminous portions on the drum wall adapted to be moved successivelyadjacent said inlet to be filled, means for passing air through saidforaminous pocket portions when in a certain section of the path oftravel of the drum and rotary means for leveling the filled pockets asthe drum moves away from said inlet.

4. In a machine of the class described, a casing having an inlet, arotary drum therein having a plurality of peripheral pockets withforaminous portions on the drum wall adapted to be movedsuccessivelyadjacent said inlet to be filled, means for conducting airthrough said foraminous pocket, portions when in a certain section ofthe path of travel of the drum and rotary means for leveling the filledpockets as the drum moves away from said inlet, said last mentionedmeans rotating in a direction opposite that of the drum whereby thematerial removed from the pockets is held against movement with thedrum.

5. In a machine of the class described, a casing having an inlet duct, arotary foruminous drum in said casing having a wall permcablc to air. aplurality of pockets on said drum, portions of which are foraminous andformed by the drum wall. means for conducting air through saidforaminous drum portion through a certain section of the path of travelof the drum, and a stripper roll for leveling the filled pockets.

6. In a machine of the class described, a casing having an inlet duet, arotary foruminous drum in said casing having a wall permeable to air, aplurality of pockets on said drum, portions of which are foraminous andformed by the drum wall, means for conducting air through saidforaminous drum portion through a certain section of the path of travelof the drum. and a stripper roll for leveling the filled pockets, .sai dstripper roli rotating in a direction opposite that of the drum andbeing arranged on the side of said inlet opening toward which the drumrevolves.

7. In a machine of the class described, a casing, a rotary screentherein, an exhaust duct at each end of the casing, a duct for supplyingair and cotton to an intermediate port-ion of the casing, and means forregulating the exhausts from opposite ends of the casing relative to oneanother whereby to proportion properly the distribution of cotton on thescreen at opposite sides of its point of supply.

8. In a machine of the class described, a casing, a rotary screentherein. an exhaust duet at each end of the aising. a duct for supplyingair and cotton to an intermediate portion of the casing and independentcon trol valves for independently regulating the size of the exhaustducts leading from opposite ends of the screen whereby to equalize thedeposition of cotton thereon at opposite sides of the point of supply.

9. In a machine of the class described, a casing having at anintermediate portion an inlet duct, a rotary drum therein having aforaininous wall, a duct at each end of the casing and of the drum fordelivering air out from the interior of the drum and means forregulating the passage of air through the ducts leading from oppositeends of the easing relatively to one another whereby to regulate thedeposition of cotton on the pcriphery of the screen at opposite sides ofthe point of supply. a

10. In a machine of the class described, a casing having an inlet duct,a rotary drum therein having a foraminous well, a duct at each end ofthe casing and off the drum for delivering air out from the interior ofthe drum and controlling valves for regulating the passage of airthrough the ducts leading from opposite ends of the casing relatively toone another whereby to regulate the deposition of cotton on theperiphery of the screen longitudinally of the drum.

11. In a machine of the class described, a rotary drum comprising animperforate hub portion, a plurality of substantially radially disposedimperforate vanes thereon, the vanes forming a plurality of chambersaround said hub, a circular foraminous wall adjacent the outer ends ofsaid vanes to form a substantially continuous foraminous drum peripheryspaced from the hub by the said vanes to form a substantially continuousforaminous drum periphery spaced from the hub by the vanes, and aplurality of pockets on said foraminous drum wall, the vwall forming thebottoms of said pockets, said ,pockets being formed by substantiallyradially disposed flights, each flight comprising a channel membercarrying a relatively yieldable wiper at its outer end, the channelmember being secured to said vanes and said screen being dividedlongitudinally of the drum into sections, each section having its edgessecured to the vaneswithin said channel members.

13. In a machine of the class described, a rotary drum comprising animperforate hub portion, a plurality of radially disposed imerforatevanes thereon, said hub tapering rom its center toward opposite ends ofthe drum and said vanes tapering from the ends toward the center, thevanes forming a plurality of chambers around said hub, a. circularforaminous wall surrounding the hub ad jacent the outer ends of saidvanes to form a substantially continuous foraminous drum peripheryspaced from the hub by the vanes, and a plurality of pockets arranged onsaid foraminous drum wall, the wall formingvthe bottoms of said pockets,said pockets bein formed by substantially radially dispose flights, eachflight comprising a channel member carrying arelat-ively yieldable wiperat its outer end, the channel member being secured to said vanes byreceiving the vanes therein, said foraminous wall being secured I tosaid vanes between the inner surfaces of the channel members and thevanes.

14. In a machine of the class described, a casing, a rotary drum in saidcasing having a hub portion, a plurality of substantially imperforatevanes extending substantially from said hub portion, the hub and vanesex-.

tending substantially the full length of the casing, a substantiallycircular foraminous drum wall spaced from the hub by the vanes, aplurality of flights forming pockets on said foraminous drum wall andextending radially outwardly therefrom, each flight being formed of apair of sections spaced apart and secured at their inner ends onOPPOSllZB" sides of a vane, the outer ends of said sections havingsecured therebetween a relatively flexible wiper element. Y

15. In a machine of the class described,a casing, a rotary drum in saidca-sing'having hub portion, a plurality of substantially imperforatevanes extenc ing substantially ra-. dially from said hub portion, thehub and vanes extending substantially the fulllength of the casing, asubstantially circular foraminous drum wall spaced from the hub by thevanes, said foraminous drum wall being formed in a plurality ofsections, a plurality of flights forming pockets on said foram1- nousdrum wall and extending substantially radially outwardly therefrom, eachflight being formed in a pair of sections spaced apart and secured attheir inner ends on opposite sides of a vane, the other ends 01 saidvanes having secured therebetween a relatively flexible wiper elementand the inner end of each section having between it and the vane theedge of a foraminous screen section. I

16. In a machine of the class described, a

casing, a movable screen, means for depositing cotton on said screenintermediate the ends of the same, exhaust means adjacent each end ofthe screen and operating through the screen, and means for varyingthesaid exhausts relative to one another, whereby to equalize thedistribution or" cotton on the screen'at opposite sides of the point ofdeposit.

17. A cotton separator comprising a casing, a revoluble element in saidcasing having spaced vanes for receiving therebetween and for propellingcotton, said casing having an inlet for directing cotton to said elementas it revolves and suction openings spaced axially of the element,screening means within the casing interposed between the carried cottonand said suction openings,

a branch suction conduit communicating with each of said openings, meansfor joining a main suction line to said branch conduits and adjustablevalves for independently controlling the suction through said openingsand branch conduits whereby to vary the distribution of the suction fromsaid main line longitudinally oi said element and thereby to regulatethe distribu tion of the cotton longitudinally of said element.

18. A cotton separator compri ing a casino, a revoluble element in saidcasing having a plu ality of vanes forming therebetween a plurality ofcotton receiving pockets. said casing having an inlet for directingcotton to said pockets as the element revolves and suction openings atopposite sides of the transverse center of the element, screening meansinterposed between the cotton in said pockets and said suction openings.a branch suction conduit communicating with each of said openings, amain suction line joined to said branch conduits and adjustable valvesfor independently controlling the suction through said openings andbranch conduits whereby to vary the distribution of the suction fromsaid main line to opposite sides of the transverse center of saidelement and thereby to regulate the distribution of the cottonlongitudinally of said element and pockets.

19. A cotton separator comprising a casing. a revoluble element in saidcasing having a plurality of vanes forming therebetwccn a plurality ofcotton receiving pockets, said casing having an inlet for directingcotton to said pockets as the element revolves and suction openings atopposite sides of the transverse center of the element. screening meansinterposed between said pockets and said suction openings and having ascreening surface extending in a plane disposed longitudinally of thepockets and arranged at opposite sides of the transverse center of theelement, a branch suction conduit communicating with each of saidopenings, a main suction line joined to said branch conduits andadjustable valves for indepcnd ently controlling the suction throughsaid openings and branch conduits whereby to vary the distribution ofthe suction from said main line to opposite sides of the trans versecenter of said element and thereby to regulate the distribution of thecottoln longitudinally of said element, pockets and screen.

20. A cotton separator comprising :1 casing, a revoluble element adaptedto receive and propel cotton, said casing having an inlet opening fordirecting cotton to said element as it revolves and air outlet andsuction openings spaced longitudinally of said clement, means forconnecting a main suction line with each of said openings, screeningmeans within the casing interposed between the carried cotton and saidopenings and adjustable valves for independently controlling the suctionthrough each of said openings from said main line, whereby to vary thedistribution of the suction from said main suction line at oppositesides of the transverse center of the element and longitudinallythereof, and thereby to regulate the distribution of the cottonlongitudinally of the element.

21. A cotton separator comprising a casing, a revoluble element in saidcasing having a plurality of cotton receiving pockets, said casinghaving an inlet opening for directing cottonto said pockets as theelement revolves and air outlet and suction openings spacedlongitudinally of said element, means for connecting a main suction linewith each of said openings, screening means within the casing interposedbetween said pockets and said openings, said screening means having ascreening surface extending in a plane disposed longitudinally of thepockets at opposite sides of the transverse center of the element, andadjustable valves for independently controlling the suction through eachof said openings from said main line whereby to vary the distribution ofthe suction from said main line to opposite sides of the transversecenter of the element and longitudinally thereof and thereby to regulatethe distribution of the cotton longitudinally of the element, pocketsand screening means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES C. GARNER.

